Fireproof mattress cover and protective shield



Se t. 20, 1966 1.. c. NEWTON FIREPHOOF MATTRESS COVER AND PROTECTIVE SHIELD Filed May 17. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGH ATTORNEY Sept. 20, 1966 L. c. NEWTON FIREPROOF MATTRESS COVER AND PROTECTIVE SHIELD Filed May 17, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Leroy C. New'fon ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,273,177 FIREPROOF MATTRESS COVER AND PROTECTIVE SHIELD Leroy C. Newton, 1343 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, Conn. Filed May 17, 1965, Ser. No. 456,171 3 Claims. '(Cl. 5-335) This is a continuation-in-part application of application Serial No. 272,347 filed April 11, 1963.

This invention relates in general to a fireproof mattress cover or pad and protective shield, and more specifically to a fireproof pad or cover adapted to fireproof a mattress, couch, day bed, upholstered furniture or the like, that is relatively simple in construction and positive in operation and which is also adapted to be used as a protective shield, signaling device, or carrier to escape from a burning building.

One of the most dangerous habits that many people have is smoking in bed or on a couch or the like. All too often, a careless smoker is seriously maimed, asphyxiated or burned to death because of this habit. Such tragic accidents occur because the habitual bed smoker has either fallen asleep with a lighted cigarette or a lighted ash or spark has been carelessly dropped unnoticed onto the mattress. Unbeknowing to the smoker such cigarette or burning ash will smolder its way through the mattress cover and sink deep within the mattress stuffing. In many instances, long after the smoker has fallen asleep, the smoldering spark either ignites into open flames to consume the person or persons in bed in flames in their sleep, or else it smolders with such intensity that the sleeper becomes asphyxiated. In either event, serious and tragic consequences result. The bigger tragedy of such accidents is that the life and property of innocent parties, and even small children are involved. The seriousness of such careless smoking in bed or on a couch, or on any upholstered piece of furniture is particularly aggravated when it is done in public institutions as, for example, in hotels, motels, hospitals, rooming houses, college dormitories and the like, where relatively large numbers of persons normally sleep.

In order to minimize the danger and tragic aftermath of the careless smoker, efforts have been made to fireproof mattresses and the like. However, to date, such efforts have not achieved any degree of commercial acceptance. Perhaps the lack of success or acceptance of the known efforts can be traced to their relatively complex structure, their high cost, and limited use. Whatever the cause of the publics apathy to the use of the fireproof mattress and the like to protect against careless smokers, the fact remains that mattresses .are being presently constructed, sold and used almost entirely without any means whatsoever to minimize or eliminate this danger.

Even if the careless smoker or other sleeping person is fortunate enough to awaken because of the heat or smoke created by such carelessness, he often finds himself entrapped within a burning room and unable to fight his way through the flames and heat. For this reason, even an awakened person in a burning building may loose his life.

Therefore, it is the object of this invention to provide a new and improved fireproof pad or cover adapted to use to cover a mattress or the like which is relatively simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which is positive in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel fireproof pad or cover which can be readily adapted for use as a covering for a mattress, as a fire shield, or as a fire extinguisher.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a fireproof pad or cover which may be detachably connected 3,273,177 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 to a mattress or alternately formed as an integral part of a mattress.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved mattress cover which is formed of a relatively soft, tightly woven, fireproof fabric material which will not interfere with the sleeping comfort of the person lying thereon.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a fireproof mattress cover which will resist any tendency of a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe or ash thereof from burning its way into the stutfing of the mattress and smoldering therein unbeknown to the smoker.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sanitary mattress pad or cover constructed and arranged so as to facilitate the airing thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a readily portable, light weight, fireproof mattress cover which is readily adapted for use as a fire shield to escape from a burning room or as a portable fire extinguisher which may be utilized to extinguish small fires which may occur within a closed room.

It is another object to provide a fireproof mattress pad or cover which is also capable of functioning as a signaling device or carrier to aid one in escaping from a burning building.

In accordance with this invention, the foregoing objects, other features and advantages are readily attained by a fireproof cover or pad which is manufactured from a relatively soft, tightly woven, asbestos fiber of Fire Underwriters grade, and which is specifically constructed and arranged so that it may be employed as a mattress pad or cover, as a portable fire shield, as a fire extinguisher for extinguishing small fires, as a signaling device, or as a carrier for carrying a person out of a burning building.

In one form of the invention, the fireproof mattress pad or cover comprises a foldable sheet of fire resistant or fire proof material which is adapted to be folded between overlying coincident relationship to define a double ply pad and an unfolded spread position to define a fire shield.

In another form of the invention, the fire resistant pad or cover comprises a sheet of fire resistant material comprising a central panel and a pair of opposed depending foldable side panels. The pad is disposed on a mattress so that the depending side portions thereof overhang and form the protective cover for the sides of the mattress. Means are provided for detachably securing such mattress cover to the bed frame or to the mattress.

In another form of the invention, the mattress cover or pad is formed in the nature of a casing in which the entire mattress is slipped. And in still another form of the invention, the fire resistant cover or pad may be integrally made a part of the mattress construction.

In still another form of the invention, the mattress pad may be coated on one side with luminous paint to attract attention, and which pad is provided with two straps to enable the same to be used as a shield or sled to carry one out of a burning building.

Therefore, a feature of this invention resides in the provision that the fireproof pad or cover of this invention can be readily applied to any standard mattress construction.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision that the mattress cover is rendered readily portable and it can be readily utilized for a fire shield or wedge to aid one in escaping a burning room.

Still another feature of this invention resides in the provision that the construction of the instant fireproof .pad will positively prohibit accidental igniting of a mattress by careless dropping of cigarette or cigarette ashes thereon.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the specification and drawings which,

FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view of a bed and mattress illustrating the manner in which the fireproof pad or covering of this invention is applied thereto.

FIGURE 2 is a detail plan view illustrating the mattress pad of FIG. 1 shown in its folded position.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the mattress pad of FIG. 2 illustrated in its spread or open unfolded position.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the pad construction illustrating the use of the cover of FIGS. 1 to 3 as a fire shield.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 6- is a perspective view of still another modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of still another modified form of the invention.

FIGURE 8 is a partial sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7.

FIGURE 9 is an elevation view of another form of the invention.

FIGURE 10 illustrates the mattress pad of FIG. 9 as applied to a mattress.

FIGURE 11 illustrates the pad of FIG. 9 used as a shield.

FIGURE 12 illustrates the pad of FIG. 9 used as a shield and signaling device.

FIGURE 13 illustrates the pad of FIG. 9 used as a sled or carrier for evacuating an injured person from a burning building.

Referring to the drawings, there are illustrated several variations of the fireproof or fire resistant pad or cover of this invention. In one of the preferred forms of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the improved fireproof pad or cover 10' comprises a pair of panels 11 and 12, preferably but not necessarily formed of two separate and distinct sheets of fireproof or resist-ant material, as for example, a soft pliable fabric formed of asbestos material of Fire Underwriters grade having a service temperature of 480 degrees. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the two panels 11 and 12 are joined together along a longitudinal edge portion thereof by a strip of binding material 13. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the respective panels 11 and 12 so secured can be readily folded between a folded and u-n-foldedposition. In the folded position, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the respective panels 11 and 12 are in overlying coincident relationship, sized and shaped so that it can be laid directly on top of the mattress 1-4' as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, in the construction and arrangement disclosed, it will be noted that the cover or pad 10 in its folded posit-ion, defines a double ply pad of fire resistant or fireproof material. The shape and size of the respective panels 11 and 12 are such that they will conform substantially to the size of the mattress 14 on which it is to be placed. Accordingly, a lighted cigarette or ash dropped onto the pad will not smolder its way into the mattress stuffing. Because of the high service temperature of 480 degrees of the fire resistant material from which the mattress cover or pad 10 is made, lighted cigarettes, cigars, or ashes thereof will not ignite its way through the mattress cover. Also, the doubl ply arrangement when used on a bed will serve to protect the person in bed from a fire that may be burning underneath the bed, and which may have originated from other causes.

A particular feature of the pad construction 10 described is that it is readily portable, and under the necessary conditions can be used as a fire shield. See FIG. 4. In the event a person is not overcomed by smoke or fire, the pad, as seen in FIG. 4, may be opened to define a fire shield to facilitate escape from a burningbuilding. Thus, as shown, the mattress pad 10 in its unfolded position defines a wedge to protect a person crouching therebehind. To facilitate its use as a fire shield, strips of fireproof material are fixed to the inside surface of the respective panels a to define a hand grip or loop 15 by which the pad 10 may be held.

Also, the construction is very suitable for extinguishing small fires which might occur in a room, e.g., in a rug, wasteb-asket. By simply spreading the respective panels 11 and 12 of the mattress pad 10 to its unfolded position and covering such a fire will cut the supply of oxygen thereto and effectively extinguish the same. Because the material from which such mattress pad or cover is formed may tend to fray along the edges thereof, a suitable strip of binding 16 may be secured around the peripheral edges of the respective panels 11 and 12 so as to prevent unraveling. The foldable construction of .pad 10 further enhances its sanitary features in that it can be readily aired. FIG. 5 illustrates another form of invention. In this form the protective fireproof or fire resistant mattress pad or cover 20 comprises a sheet of asbestos fabric of the same Fire Underwriters grade as above described. It comprises a central panel 21 portion which has a pair of depending side panel sections 22 connected thereto. As shown, respective side panel portions 22 are connected along the oppose-d longitudinal edges of the central panel section 21. Means are provided for detachably connecting the mattress pad or cover 20 to either the mattress or to the bed frame. The means for detachably connecting such mattress pad or cover comprises a pair of strap members 23 which are secured at spaced intervals to each of the respective side panels 22. Each strap 23 is secured to the underside of the mattress or to the bed frame by suitable fastening means, as for example, snap-on fasteners or the like. With this construction, it will be noted that it too may be utilized as a fire shield or as a fire extinguisher if the need arose.

In another form of the invention, as shown in FIG. 6, fireproof or fire resistant mattress pad or cover 25 comprises a casing in which the entire mattress is housed. As shown, the casing 25 of FIG. 6 comprises a top panel 26, a bottom panel 27 and a pair of side panels 28 connected therebetween. And end panel 29 is connected between the sides and top and bottom panels so as to close one end of the case 25. The other end of the top and bottom panels 26, 27 have connected thereto a fiap portion 26A, 27A which are adapted to be folded into overlapping relationship to form a closure for the other end of the casing as seen in FIG. 6. Suitable fastening means, as for example, a snap fastener 30 or buttons, zippers or the like may be provided to secure the end flaps 26A, 27A in overlapping. The material of casing 25 is asbestos fiber as described.

In FIG. 7, the respective fireproof cover or pad is formed integral with the mattress construction. As shown, the mattress 35 comprises the usual box type mattress in which the stuffings and/or springs 36 are contained. In accordance with this form of the invention, a sheet 37 of soft tightly woven asbestos material of the type above described is interposed between the outer top and bottom fabric portions 38, 39 of the mattress and the stufling material therein. As best shown in FIG. 8, the respective asbestos sheets or pads 37 are disposed between the stuffing 36 and the outer fabric covering 38 or 39 of the mattress which form the top and bottom of the mattress. Accordingly, the respective asbestos pads 37 are secured in place by a sewn seam which circumscribes the periphery of the mattress 35. Thus, the arrangement is such that the fireproofing material 37 is disposed entirely within the structure of the mattress so as to be made an integral part thereof.

In each of the forms described, it will be noted that the fireproof pad or cover is placed between the mattress and the ordinary bedding, as for example, sheets, blankets, and the like, which make up the bed. Thus, the person is not directly resting on the fireproof pad or cover, and for this reason, the sleeping comfort of the person is not affected in any manner or form by the use of the fireproof pads described. However, in the event that a lighted cigarette or ash should drop onto the bedding, the cigarette or burning ash cannot possibly penetrate beyond the pad, and thus cannot enter or burn its way into the interior of the mattress, and smolder therein. Further, with each of the constructions described, it will be noted that the hazards, and dangers heretofore created by a burning cigarette or ash smoldering deep in the interior of the mattress, only to break out into flames hours later, is virtually eliminated. From the foregoing, it is readily noted that the construction of the invention is relatively simple, can be inexpensively produced and is practical and economic in operation. The use of mattress pads or covers in accordance with this invention should virtually eliminate the causes of death and injury heretofore sustained as a result of careless bed smoking habits. Therefore, the described constructions safeguard both the smoker against 'his own negligence, and the public in general. The invention has been described with particular reference to a mattress, however, it is contemplated that the instant invention can be made equally applicable for use with any of the upholstered pieces of furniture, such as a sofa, chair and the like.

FIGURE 9 illustrates another form of the invention. In this form, the mattress pad 50 comprises a substantially rectangular sheet of fire resistant material, such as a woven asbestos sheet provided with a binding 51 sewn around the edges thereof to prohibit unraveling. In this form of the invention, the pad 50 is sized so as to over cover the upper two-thirds portion of mattress 52, since this is the vulnerable portion of the bed due to smoking. As shown in FIG. 10, the pad 50 is shaped and sized so that it can be simply rested on the mattress 52.

Secured by suitable means to the back side of the pad are a pair of straps 53, through which one may place his arm as seen in FIG. 11. Thus, the pad 50 in case of fire, may be conveniently used as a fire shield to crash through a wall of flames in escaping from a burning building. Also, the back side 50A of the pad 50 is coated with an illuminous material or paint.

As shown in FIG. 13, the pad 50 may be Worn on ones back to protect a person in the event he is trapped at a window. Also, with the illuminous side 50A of the pad 50 place at ones back, it functions as a reflector rendering any person so trapped visible from the ground. This can be extremely important in tall buildings or in case of heavy smoke. Heretofore, many persons have died because they were not discovered in time when trapped at a window.

Also, as seen in FIG. 13, the pad 50 may function as a sled to evacuate an injured person from a burning building. This is attained by simply placing the arms of an injured person through the straps as shown, and dragging the pad over the floor in the manner indicated.

While the instant invention has been disclosed With reference to several embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that the invention is not to be taken as limited to all of the details thereof, and modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the sphere or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A fireproof pad comprising a first panel and a second panel, each of said panels being flat and sized to cover a given area of a piece of upholstered fruniture, and each of said flat panels being formed of a single layer of soft tightly woven fireproof fabric, and means for securing said panels together along common edge thereof so as to permit folding of said panels between a coincident overlying position thereof to form a double ply covering pad for said furniture piece and a spread open position to define an extended single ply pad adapted for use on a fire shield to crash through a wall of flames, and hand straps connected to one side of each of said panels to define a hand hold whereby the same may be held in a spreadposition to define a fire shield, said h-and straps being connected to the inside surface of the respective panels when said panels are disposed in their folded overlying position.

2. A fireproof panel comprising a pair of rectangularly shaped panels, each being sized to cover a given size mattress or the like, said panels being formed of a soft,

tightly woven high heat resistance asbestos fabric, a strip of binding connecting each of said panels along a common edge thereof so that said panels can be readily folded about said bounded edge between of folded position in which the panels overlie one another in coincidental relationship to define a double ply mattress cover and an unfolded spread apart position wherein said panels can be used to form a fire shield for crashing through a wall of flame, means formed on the inside of said panel to define a handle, said handle including a strip of material connected to each of said panels to define a loop by which each of said panels can be grasped when used as a shield whereby the angle of spread of said panels when used as a fire shield can be varied accordingly.

3. A fireproof mattress pad comprising a sheet of Woven asbestos fiber size to cover a substantial portion of a mattress, a binding circumscribing the peripheral edge of said woven sheet to prohibit unraveling, a coating of luminous material on one side of said sheet, and a pair of arm straps secured to the luminous side of said sheet whereby said sheet functions as a protective fireproof mattress pad, a shield for crashing through a wall of flames and a sled for evacuating an injured person from a burning building.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,009,620 11/1911 Adams 135 1,700,535 1/ 1929 Kaufmann 5354 1,713,072 5/1929 Bremner 160-229 2,385,870 10/ 1945 Lasher et al. 5-355 X 2,801,427 8/ 1957 Crocker 5--354 2,907,055 10/1959 Berman 5354 X 3,132,344 5/1964 Langdon 2-81 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

A. M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FIREPROOF PAD COMPRISING A FIRST PANEL AND A SECOND PANEL, EACH OF SAID PANELS BEING FLAT AND SIZED TO COVER A GIVEN AREA OF A PIECE OF UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE, AND EACH OF SAID FLAT PANELS BEING FORMED OF A SINGLE LAYER OF SOFT TIGHTLY WOVEN FIREPROOF FABRIC, AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID PANELS TOGETHER ALONG COMMON EDGE THEREOF SO AS TO PERMIT FOLDING OF SAID PANELS BETWEEN A COINCIDENT OVERLYING POSITION THEREOF TO FORM A DOUBLE PLY COVERING PAD FOR SAID FURNITURE PIECE AND A SPREAD OPEN POSITION TO DEFINE AN EXTENDED SINGLE PLY PAD ADAPTED FOR USE ON A FIRE SHIELD TO CRASH THROUGH A WALL OF FLAMES, AND HAND STRAPS CONNECTED TO ONE SIDE OF EACH OF SAID PANELS TO DEFINE A HAND HOLD WHEREBY THE SAME MAY BE HELD IN A SPREAD POSITION TO DEFINE A FIRE SHIELD, SAID HAND STRAPS BEING CONNECTED TO THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE RESPECTIVE PANELS WHEN SAID PANELS ARE DISPOSED IN THEIR FOLDED OVERLYING POSITION. 